Free Disneyland Tickets Prompt Inquiry in Anaheim

Two elected city officials received free tickets to Disneyland worth a total of $5,912 last year, prompting the city attorney to ask state authorities whether the gifts violated state law.

Mayor Fred Hunter received 137 tickets in 1991 and Councilman Irv Pickler got 78, according to statements prepared by the theme park and recently delivered to city officials. The tickets cost $27.50 each.

State law bars officials who accept more than $250 in gifts in a year from voting on issues involving the donor for a year. The two officials could also face fines if they are found to have violated a state law that prohibits local elected officials from accepting more than $1,000 in gifts from a single source during the course of year.

City Manager James D. Ruth said the gifts are being studied by City Atty. Jack White, and the city is expected to seek an interpretation of the law from the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission.

White was in Sacramento on Tuesday conferring with commission officials on the ticket issue.

Agency spokeswoman Carol Thorp said that--while she could not comment specifically on the Anaheim case--tickets made available to public officials are generally considered gifts and are subject to the state restrictions.

The Disney gifts come at a time when the city is involved in negotiations with the entertainment company over environmental and financing issues relating to Disney’s $3-billion expansion.

During the time that park tickets were made available to city officials, the council voted to approve Disney-related items, including the hiring of a Los Angeles attorney to help with ongoing negotiations, retaining consultants to investigate financing options and approving the spending of about $1 million for the environmental impact study.

On Tuesday, Pickler said that the bulk of the tickets credited to him were obtained by him on behalf of other people, mostly other government officials or dignitaries visiting the city.

“I always got the impression that when I called in for tickets for Joe Blow that he would be charged with reporting them as a gift,” Pickler said. “Some of the people I don’t even know. I never stopped to think that they would be charged to me.